| This article describes where to look, what to look | | | | * Choose eyelets, D-rings, or webbing for the |
| for, and how to choose day-hiking boots. Knowing | | | | lower lace attachment points as a matter of |
| where to look and what to look for, you can be | | | | personal taste. My experience does not indicate |
| sure to get the high-quality hiking boots you need | | | | any one to be better than the others for |
| without paying extra for features you don't need. | | | | day-hiking boots. |
| Day-hiking boots range anywhere from $40.00 to | | | | * Good insulation and padding all around, firm on |
| $150.00. The high end of that range is beginning to | | | | the bottom, with a tough but smooth lining. |
| cross into backpacking boots, but anything below | | | | * Double stitching on all visible seams. |
| that range is either an exceptionally good deal or | | | | * More leather and less fabric is better. Split |
| an imitation hiking boot that will disappoint you | | | | leather is fine (and you'll almost never find full-grain |
| badly. | | | | leather in a day-hiking boot), but not full suede. |
| So, let's talk about the kinds of places to shop for | | | | * Fewer seams is better. |
| hiking boots, features to look for, pitfalls to avoid, | | | | Most of these features are self-evident, but here |
| and techniques to make sure you have the right | | | | are a few techniques for evaluating specific |
| fit. | | | | features. |
| Where to Shop for Hiking Boots | | | | * Tread should be at least two fifths of the total |
| If you have never done any serious hiking, you | | | | thickness of the sole. |
| will want to buy your first serious hiking boots in a | | | | * Measure the softness of the tread surface by |
| hands-on experience. I'm being honest here (habit | | | | pressing your thumbnail into it. You should be able |
| of mine). Yes, it is in my interest to persuade you | | | | to make a visible indentation that springs out in a |
| to buy your hiking boots through my Web site, | | | | second or so. |
| but I won't do that if it is not appropriate for you. | | | | * Measure the stiffness of the shank by holding |
| Even aside from ethical considerations, it would be | | | | the heel in one hand and the toe in the other, and |
| bad business for me to create a lot of dissatisfied | | | | twisting the sole. You should not be able to twist |
| customers telling their friends about their bad | | | | it at all. |
| experience. No, I'm just being honest. I don't want | | | | Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Hiking Boots |
| to take your money and leave you unhappy. Buy | | | | The biggest problem you're likely to find in |
| your first pair of hiking boots at a | | | | shopping for day-hiking boots is cheaply-made |
| brick-and-mortar store where you can handle the | | | | "imitation" hiking boots. They look like hiking boots, |
| boots and try them for proper fit. Then, when | | | | but they're not built to stand up to trail conditions. |
| you have enough experience to know what you | | | | They will not last long, and they will not give you |
| want in your second pair of hiking boots (or third, | | | | the traction and water resistance you need. |
| or ...), you can take advantage of the lower prices | | | | You can tell an "imitation" hiking boot from the |
| available on the Web. | | | | real thing by these characteristics: |
| When shopping for hiking boots, look for an | | | | * Mild tread, less than about two-fifths the |
| outdoor equipment store rather than a shoe | | | | thickness of the sole. |
| store. The sales clerks in a general shoe store are | | | | * Hard tread surface that you can barely indent |
| not likely to know the difference between real | | | | with your fingernail. |
| hiking boots and fashion imitations of hiking boots. | | | | * Non-attached tongue. |
| You might pay more money at an outdoor | | | | * Non-rigid sole that you can twist by hand. |
| equipment store, but you will realize the savings | | | | * No scree collar. There may be patches of |
| out on the trail. | | | | leather or a different color of fabric that look like |
| Once you're in the store, ask about some of the | | | | a scree collar, but if it doesn't have thick, soft |
| things you read in this article. If the sales clerk | | | | padding around the top, it's not a real hiking boot. |
| doesn't know what a scree collar is or why soft | | | | It won't keep the pebbles out, and it might chafe |
| outer soles are better than hard, look for another | | | | or constrict your Achilles tendon. |
| sales clerk, or another store. | | | | Fitting your Hiking Boots |
| If you are ready to buy your hiking boots on the | | | | You must fit your hiking boots with any |
| Web, you can take advantage of the best of | | | | orthopedic inserts, off-the-shelf insoles, and the |
| both worlds. You can buy from a high-volume | | | | hiking socks you intend to wear with them. A |
| store that has the best prices, but first get your | | | | good rule of thumb is to start with one full size |
| advice, recommendations, and reviews from | | | | larger than your regular street shoes. |
| affiliated Web sites that specialize in hiking | | | | With all the inserts and insoles in place and your |
| equipment. | | | | hiking socks on, but with no laces in the boot, put |
| Wherever you choose to buy your hiking boots, | | | | the boot on and push your foot all the way |
| make sure there is a reliable, knowledgeable | | | | forward until your toes touch the front. You |
| person in the loop somewhere. If the sales clerk | | | | should have just enough room behind the heel to |
| or Web site seems too eager about making the | | | | slide your finger all the way in. |
| sale and not interested enough in discussing and | | | | Next, lace the boot up snugly and walk around. |
| comparing features, you should look somewhere | | | | The boots will be stiff and uncomfortable because |
| else before you make a final decision. | | | | they're not broken in, but they should not allow |
| Especially when you are shopping the Web sites, | | | | your foot to slide or rub. |
| you may need to pay attention to brands. Certain | | | | Stand on a steep slope with your toes pointing |
| brands have a well-deserved reputation for good | | | | down. (Use the fitting horse where you're |
| quality, and you should not ignore that. On the | | | | supposed to put your foot to lace the shoe while |
| other hand, some brands have an overblown | | | | sitting. Go ahead and stand on it.) You should be |
| reputation that often has more to do with fashion | | | | able to wiggle your toes, and they should not |
| than with genuine quality. The only way to know | | | | touch the front of the boots. |
| the difference, and to find the quality you need | | | | If you bought the boots via the Web, do this |
| without paying for fashion that you don't care | | | | fit-test as soon as you get them. Even if you |
| about, is to talk to those who know the | | | | think you know your size, boots from different |
| difference and to read reviews from people who | | | | manufacturers might fit differently. Check the size |
| have actually used the hiking boots in the field. | | | | and fit immediately, and return them for a |
| Features to Look For in Day-Hiking Boots | | | | replacement if they don't fit right. |
| Here is what you need to look for: | | | | Conclusion |
| * Deep tread in a soft sole for traction. | | | | If you are looking for your first pair of serious |
| * Appropriate height (just above the ankle). | | | | hiking boots, you must do your shopping in an |
| * Soft, wide, thick scree collar (the padding | | | | outdoor equipment store where you can handle |
| around the top that keeps pebbles out without | | | | the boots and talk to knowledgeable sales staff. |
| chafing your Achilles tendon). | | | | Only if you have some experience with day-hiking |
| * Fiberglass shank. Steel is okay, but fiberglass is | | | | boots, take advantage of the bargains available on |
| better in day-hiking boots because it's lighter. | | | | the Web. |
| Full-length is preferred, but shorter shanks may | | | | Check for the features that identify a quality |
| be acceptable if you are planning more moderate | | | | hiking boot, and avoid "fake" hiking boots. |
| hiking. | | | | Bring all the inserts and socks you will wear with |
| * Tongue attached at least up to the top of the | | | | your hiking boots, and check for a firm but |
| foot, or higher if you plan on crossing streams | | | | comfortable fit with no rubbing or sliding. |
| frequently. | | | | Look for quality, and expect to pay for it, but |
| * Crampon attachments (good, but not essential, | | | | don't pay more than you have to for features |
| unless you do a lot of hiking in icy conditions). | | | | that don't contribute to the durability and comfort |
| * Hooks for the laces above the top of the foot. | | | | of your hiking boots. |